Remote control for warning devices



Feb. 1l, 1930. c. A. CAMPBELL 1,747,049

REMOTE CONTROL FOR WARNING DEVICES Filed April 5, 1929 4 l', an,

7 a, MM

named Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEFIcE OHABLES A. CA-IPBELL, OF WATEBVOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO THE NEW YORK- AIB BRAKE OODANY, .A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY REMOTE CONTROL FOB WARNING 'DEVICES e Application nled Aril 5, 1929. Serial No. 3513,85?.v

The present invention relates to pneumatically operated signals and more particularly to a device for controlling the flow yof a1r to the signal. Pneumatic signals installed on cars or Vtrains are frequently attached to a portlon of the car or train remote from the operator or engineer and necessitate the employment of a remote control device to operate the signal. In some instances a cable within reach of the operator, and connected to the signal, is used while other types are actuated by a valve mechanism adapted to be opened or closed by the operator.- The former .type is usually hand operated and has the disadvantage that the operator must release other levers controlling the movement of the tram to pull the cable. The valve type may be foot operated but installations in use at the present time are slow in their response due to the fact that there is frequently an interval between the manipulation of the valve and the operation of the signal device. Since the distance through which the air must flow from the valve to the signal is sometimes relatively great, it is impossible to produce l series of signals in quick successive blasts. It has also been found that most types of pneumatic control devices consume a large quantity of air.

It is an object of this invention to eliminate disadvantages of the constructions referred to above by providing a relay valve adapted to be actuated by air and controlledby a foot operated valve within reach of the operator, the relay valve being preferably attached directly to the signal horn structure. A v

It is another object of the invention to provide a signal which responds to a small supply of compressed air, the relay valve being so positioned with respect to the signal that compressed air may be stored within a short distance of the signal, thus permitting immediate actuation of the signal when the foot operated valve is opened.

A preferred arrangement of the mechanism is illustrated in the accompanying draw.- ing in which the relative positions of the horn and valves are shown.

an annular flange 5- adapted to cooperate withla recess 6 in thecasing 7 to clamp the edge of a metallic diaphragm 8 between the bracket and the casing. The bracket also las an annular seat 9 projecting from itsl ace. e The casing 7 is provided with an annular seat 10 concentric with the seat 9, the diameter of seat 10 being somewhat greater than that of the seat 9. The casing .7 is held securely to the bracket by the cap screws 14. To the diaphragm is attached a pendent weight 11 disposed in the mouth of the horns. The space 12 within the seat 9, and immediately above the weight 11, is vented to the atmosphere through the aperture '13.

Formed integrally with the bracket 2 is a substantially cylindrical valve body 15 which is bored to receive a bushing 16 and threaded, at 17, to receive a plug 18. Intermediate the lower end of the bushing 1 6 and the plug 18 the valve body is apertured, as at `19, to receive the end of a pipe 20. The upper end ofthe bushing 16 is provided with a radial opening 21 and communicates with chamber 22 in the valve body,

the chamber 22 in turn being in communication with pipe 2 3. i

Disposed for reciprocation in the bushing 16 is a movable abutment, which, in the form of the invention illustrated, is shown as a skirted piston 24. It is obvious, however, that any of the equivalents of a piston may be employed. On the upper surface of the piston is secured a gasket 25 adapted to cooperate with an annular seat 26 projecting from the bushing 16 to close an aperture 27 in the end of the bushing.- The piston` 24 10 'the downward travel of the piston so that the skirted end thereof does not close the aperture 19 when the piston is in its lowest position. When the piston is lowered to open aperture 27 the pipe 23 is brought into communication with a passage 30 in the bracket, this passage communicating in turn with pasjsages 31 and 32 in the bracket and casing respectively to permit flow of air into the re- ;cess 33 in the casing 7. A gasket 34 is interposed between the bracket and casing to prevent leakage of air from the passages 31 and 32.

The foot valve is preferably mounted angularly with respect to the oor and comprises a cylindrical body 35 bored to receive a bushing 36 and a slide valve 37 constrained to move slidably within the bushing. The slide valve is mounted in a spool 38 on stem 39 which projects above the valve body through a boss 40 threaded into the top of the valve body. A foot button 41 is secured to the stem 39 and is adapted slidably to engage the boss 40.Yr A bushing 42 in the boss 40 forms a further guide and seat for the stem. The spool and slide valve are normally u rged upwardly by a spring 43 bearing against plug 44 threaded into the lower end ofthe valve body. Bushing 36 is rovided with radial openings 45 and 46, the ormer of which opens to the atmosphere while the latter is connected through passage 47 with the air conduit 20 leading to the underside of the piston A24 of the relay valve.

It will be seen that the flanges of the spools 38 are provided with openings 48 and that the port 46 is normally in communication with the spaces below and above the spool through the openings 48. The passage 49 is also in communication with these spaces as well as with the air conduit 23 leading to the upper side of the piston 24 in the relay valvea strainers 50 and 51 being interposed in the conduit 23 at suitable locations. Conduit 23 is likewise connected through pipe 52 with a source of compressed air 53. n

Normally the valves are in the positions shown in the drawing. In these positions the slide valve 37 uncovers port 46 in the foot valve establishing communication between the conduits 20, 23 and 52 so that the air pressures above and below the piston 24 in the relay valve are substantially equal. The pressure of the spring 28 on the under side of the piston urges the piston upwardly however, so that the otherwise balanced valve is held againstthe seat 26. It is to be noted that under these conditions'the air pressure existing in pipe 52 extends throughout the system as far as the seat 26. l

When the fot operated slide valve 37 1s depressed the ports 45 and 46 both open to the recess'in the slide valve, opening pipe 20 to the atmosphere, whereupon the pressure on the under side of the piston 24 is greatly reduced. At the Sametime port 46 is closed to the spaces around spool 38 so that there is no escape of air in the pipe 23 through the foot valve. The pressure on the upper side of piston 24 is now considerably greater than that on the under side and is suicient to overcome the spring 28 whereupon the gasket 25 lisengages seat 26 to permit air to flow from pipes 52 and 23, through chamber 22, aperture 27, and passages 30, 31 and 32 to the recess 33 of casin 7.

The diaphragm 8 is normally held a ainst seat 10 by the pendent Weight 11 and is s ightly spaced from seat 9. When compressed air is admitted to the recess 33 the diaphragm is forced away from seat 10 against seat 9 thus relieving the pressure in the casing 7. The diaphragm will then return to its initial position and again rest on seat 10. The increase and release of pressure within the casing alternates rapidly and the successive movements of the diaphragm against the seats 9 and 10 create Vibrations which are greatly amplified by the bell of the horn.

When the foot valve is released the spring 43 immediately moves the slide valve to its initial position re-establishing the pressure in pipe 2O to close the relay valve.

If relatively short blasts of the signal are desired it is only necessary momentarily to de ress the foot valve to produce a partial re uction of pressure in the pipe 20. It is evident that the relay valve will open even when the reduction of pressure in the pipe 20 is relatively small and that normal valve closing pressure will thus be quickly reestablished. It is, therefore, possible to produce relatively short and ra idly successive blasts of the signal due to the fact that the arrangement provides for an almost iminediate resetting of the relay valve when the foot valve is released.

The form of the invention illustrated and described is a preferred example of the manner in which the controlling means may be arranged. It is obvious, however, that the invention is susceptible to modification.

What is claimed is:

1. A signal device comprising a pneumatically operated signal; a source of fluid under pressure; a conduit connecting said signal to said source; a valve in said conduit for controlling the flow of fluid to said signal;

l lao said valve opening means to open the first mentioned valve.

2. A signal device comprising a pneumatically operated signal; a source of Huid under pressure; a conduit connecting said signal to said source; a valve in said conduit for controlling the flow of fluid to said signal; a cylinder; a movable abutment in said cylinder, said abutment being adapted to open and close said valve; means for normall holding said valve in closed position; a y-pass connecting the ends of said cylinder, said by-pass being in communication with said source; and a second valve in said by-pass,

said second valve when in one position per-v mitting communication between the' ends of the cylinder and in another position permitting reduction of the pressure at one end of the cylinder, whereby the uid pressure at the other end of the cylinder moves said abutment to open said first mentioned valve.

3. A signal device comprising a pneumatically operated signal; a source of liuid under pressure; a cylinder communicating with said signal; a movable abutment in said cylinder; valve means on said abutment for interrupting communication between said cylinder and said signal; a conduit connecting said source to one end of said cylinder; a second conduit connecting the other` end of said cylinder to said source to provide substantially equal pressures on the opposite ends of the abutment; spring means acting on one end of said abutment to hold said valve means in closed position; and a valve in said second conduit for exhausting Huid from said other end of the cylinder, whereby Huid pressure in the opposite end of the cylinder will move said abutment to open said valve means.

4. A signal device comprising a pneumatically operated signal; a source of uid under pressure; a cylinder communicating with said signal; a movable abutment in said c linder; valve means on said abutment or interrupting communication between said cylinder and said signal; a conduit connecting one end of said cylinder with said source; a second conduit connecting the other end of said cylinder with said source; spring means acting on one end of the abutment to hold said valve means in closed position; and a valve in said second conduit adapted when in one position to interrupt communication between the ends of the cylinder and open said second conduit to the atmosphere,

whereby said valve'means is opened, and in another position to establish communication between the ends of the cylinder to reset the valve means to closed position.

.In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s ecication.

C ARLES A. CAMPBELL. 

